KOCHI, SEPTEMBER 13, 2026 ; Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal on Sunday described himself as a “Dimagi Naxal”, turning a phrase associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and frequently used by the BJP to target its political opponents, during a talk on “Horse Trade and Democracy” in Kochi.
“I have to make a confession. I am a ‘Dimagi Naxal’,” Sibal said while opening his address at the event organised by LiveLaw.
The former Union minister was referring to the term “Dimagi Naxal”, which Modi has used to describe people he alleges are ideologically aligned with Naxalism and have become entrenched within the system. Modi has urged citizens to identify and isolate such elements.
‘Horse Trading’ Is a Constitutional Crisis
Speaking at length about political horse trading, Sibal drew an analogy with ancient warfare, when horses played a crucial role in determining the outcome of battles and their sellers were known to employ various tactics while negotiating with buyers.
“Now it has taken a different colour,” Sibal said, pointing out that while the seller was considered the trickster in ancient times, “at this point in time, it is the buyer who is the trickster.”
Sibal argued that political horse trading should not be dismissed as merely another political controversy. Instead, he described it as a “constitutional crisis” that strikes at the foundations of representative democracy.
According to Sibal, such practices undermine representative government, the integrity of the vote and the basic structure of parliamentary democracy.
He characterised horse trading as an organised attempt to purchase or induce elected representatives so that a political majority created after an election can be replaced by another majority.
He said such inducements could take different forms, ranging from cash, ministerial positions and protection from investigation to political arrangements presented as legitimate mergers.
‘Power Is Delivered to Another’
Sibal argued that the fundamental problem lies in the disconnect between the mandate given by voters and the government that ultimately exercises power.
“The citizen votes for one mandate, power is delivered to another,” he said, stressing that such political manoeuvring can undermine the very purpose of representative elections.
His remarks come amid continuing political debates over defections, mergers and the methods used by political parties to build or retain majorities after elections.
Key Takeaway
Sibal’s “Dimagi Naxal” remark appeared to be a pointed political response to a term used by Modi and the BJP, while his larger address focused on the democratic and constitutional implications of political horse trading.
